On Monday, Steve Smith was announced as Australia’s 45th Test skipper, replacing the injured Michael Clarke and leapfrogging vice-captain Brad Haddin into the most prestigious position in Australian sport.
Considering Haddin’s experience, his role as deputy, and the way he led his troops to a memorable victory on Saturday while standing in for Clarke, the decision to appoint the relatively inexperienced Smith is a slight gamble, although not a totally unexpected one.
Around the same time, there were reports that injured Indian captain MS Dhoni was set to return for the Second Test in Brisbane, and take over the reins from Virat Kohli.
Though Dhoni is a well-respected member of the Indian cricket fraternity, and an experienced keeper-batsman, I believe India should take a leaf out of Australia’s book, and ‘roll the dice’ by retaining Kohli as captain.
In Adelaide, Kohli displayed all the qualities I like to see in a captain. He led from the front and played aggressive cricket. He was only too happy to confront the Australian players when he felt it was warranted. He was – for the most part – proactive with his decision-making in the field. He also appeared extremely supportive of his teammates throughout the match.
Additionally, the added responsibility brought out the best in his batting, as evidenced by his outstanding twin hundreds.
Most importantly, he captained to win at all times.
The First Test will be remembered as one of the greatest of all time, and credit needs to go to both teams. Not just for the displays of individual talent, but for their respective captains’ intent. Australia declared aggressively in both innings, and India went for the win on the final day, despite being set a challenging 364 run chase.
I give plenty of credit to Kohli for the unbelievable Test we just witnessed. His strokeplay was exquisite. He never shied away from a fight, even if you think he struggled to contain his emotions at times. His captaincy was positive and inspirational, with winning the only thing on his mind. All in all, he was a credit to his country, and to Test cricket in general.
Despite many stating that Dhoni – if put in the same position – would have played for the draw on Saturday, we actually have no real idea if that would have been the case. It’s pure speculation to state that he would or wouldn’t have gone for the win.
What is not up for dispute is Dhoni’s age of 33.
By no means is that ancient, or an age that suggests retirement is imminent. Yet it is an old enough age to give a clear indication of the way one approaches his cricket. A leopard doesn’t change its spots, particularly after eight years of captaincy, and because of that, perhaps it’s time for a change in Indian cricket.
Though I have never been enamored with Dhoni’s captaincy, it’s difficulty to argue with the results. Under Dhoni, India have achieved the apex in all three formats: the number one Test ranking in 2009, the 50-over World Cup in 2011, and the Twenty20 World Cup in 2007.
However, all good things must come to and end, and the time seems right for the Indian succession plan to be implemented. The BCCI have the opportunity to make it a seamless one without major distraction or drama; a luxury not always afforded during leadership changes. Dhoni can play on, and provide strong support, guidance and experience for Kohli to lean on as India move into the next phase for their Test team.
Kohli is the future, and that future should be now.
Meanwhile, Smith has been earmarked for the Australian Test captaincy for some time, yet the presence of Clarke – and to a lesser extent, Haddin – ensured that, while Smith’s time was predicted to come, it wasn’t planned to be any time soon.
Yet Clarke’s dodgy hamstrings and back, and Haddin’s advanced age and lack of runs, both combined to see Smith ascend to leader of the baggy greens a little earlier than scheduled.
At 25 years of age, he’s Australia’s third youngest captain ever. However, it’s the right choice.
Smith has cemented his spot in the top six over the last 12 months, via sheer weight of runs. In 2014, he has scored 779 Test runs at 77.90 across seven Tests, including three centuries and four half centuries. His career average has now been raised to 46.02, with 1749 runs in 23 Tests.
He’s tightened up his technique without losing his attacking flair, and the use of his feet with positive intent is truly something to behold and admire. He has become a class batsman who more than belongs at Test level.
He’s come a long way from the kid I once dubbed ‘Starlight’; a cruel reference to a joke that he must have been granted a wish of playing for Australia, rather than actually earning it on merit. Such was the disdain I had for his batting and bowling, though the egg is firmly on my face now.
He’s also shown himself to be an astute and intelligent captain during stints with NSW and the Sydney Sixes. Though clearly Test cricket is a whole different kettle of fish, the hallmarks of a great captain have already been on show: he’s aggressive, proactive and creative.
It’s a bold, but wise, choice by the Australian selectors, and I commend them for it.
One suspects that should their Indian counterparts fail to take their lead, and instead revert to Dhoni over Kohli, it could well be a blessing in disguise for Australia, and other opponents.
shivam mishra
Guest
PLEASE CALLED HIM JAMES PATTINSON FOR 3RD TEST
Simoc
Guest
Martyn was dropped as a scapegoat (by gutless selectors) after Australia lost a test to South Africa. He also top scored but got out close to the win, while batting with number 11, McDermott.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Good piece Ryano, I was a bit surprised to see Smith given the nod. Thought Hads would hold the fort in the short term while Smith served as VC. That said I like the appointment as it is the start of the generational change this team needs. I was very impressed with Kohli obviously with the bat but his leadership was outstanding. Glad you mentioned the Test being a classic, this was one of the best test matches I've watched, it had everything.
Whatever
Guest
As someone who wants payback the 4-0 drubbing in India, picking Dhoni as captain as great. Having Kohli would only ensure a nerve wracking contest and we don't what that (worse sarcasm ever!). Amazing how Shaun Marsh, Shane Watson, Chris Rogers and Brad Haddin get such leeway despite being over 30 and having poor Test cricket records (and in the case of Shaun Marsh, first class records)! While younger, more successful players like Maddinson (got 118 at the Gabba, before he skipped a match to grieve 408); Joe Burns (who has an average over 40 in first class cricket) and Silk (better first class average than S.Marsh in his career and younger) and 27 year old Matthew Wade (averages 39.56 in first class cricket) are ignored. Well let's hope we won't see a repeat of what happened in 2013 anytime soon for the Aussies (falling to number 5 in ICC Test Rankings). Since what I am writing will not be published, I might as well say, there are far too many underperforming veterans!
13th Man
Roar Pro
I dont care that he is not the most technichally correct batsman going around, he is scoring runs. Shaun Marsh has very good technique but is not a better batsman than smith. India might be nice to watch when they bat but the Aussies still won.
Duncan
Guest
H. Ryan nice article , enjoyed it The problem the BCCI have in getting Dhoni to step down from the captaincy is they have let themselves be backed into a corner by allowing him to be vice chairman of India Cements their biggest sponsor which is such a conflict of interest it's laughable Really couldn't see another alternative to Smith as captain as Haddin is in the last stages of his test career and Warners way to much of a boofhead to even be considered
Brains of a bimbo (Atgm)
Guest
Dhoni shud continue in limitited overs format and kohli shud take over the test captaincy. bailey will most likely lead the side in the wc but i'd pick him in the odi 11 for wc onlyif he performs in the triangular series ahed of wc(he'll be in my wc squad though).if he fails in the aforementioned series then smith shud be made captain in odis too.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
I wish them well too, mate. And though I don't predict Smith to be perfect, nor Kohli to have been perfect in Adelaide, I like the way both play for the win. Test cricket needs that, in my opinion.
jamesb
Guest
Ryan I see my post has won a few fans.....not. Look, I am just cautious for both Kohli and Smith. I wish them well. Valid point that it was Kohli's first Test in charge as captain. But at the end of day 4, India were 7 overs short of their requirements. Its one thing to be one or two overs short, (and im fine with that) but 7 overs!. There's no excuses. Purposely bowl less overs so they could chase a lesser target. Its just not cricket.
jamesb
Guest
"Same goes for every captain" Not every captain is 25.
Patrick
Guest
He still plays some uglier baseball slogs! India are so nice to watch when they bat.
Ryan OConnell
Guest
Don't forget to get your teeth done!
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Totally agree, and I've written about it before, so you'll have no arguement from me. But if a batsman's technique is the very reason he gets out consistently, then I have no issue whatsoever in questioning the technique. Especially when said batsman gets to Test level where such deficiencies are exposed more readily and ruthlessly. Runs should always be a batsman's currency, first and foremost. But it's worth pointing out that the reason there is such a thing as a 'classical' technique is because it's deemed the most effective and correct way to score runs. And that's why selectors and fans sometimes fall in love with guys who have a great technique, but not neccassitly the runs to validate the 'love'.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
There is no way that Dhoni will step aside for Kohli. And I don't know that he necessarily should either. While Kohli definitely benefited personally from the captaincy, as he seems one of those people who's game improves under the responsibility of leading from the front, the efforts of the final day tend to lead to overlooking much of what went before. Sure, India kept fighting, they didn't capitulate like in England. But they only took 12 Australian wickets all match, and at least 3-4 of them came purely as a result of Australia hitting out for quick runs before the declaration. If not for losing what amounted to about half a day (2 full sessions less the 3 extra half-hours each of the last 3 days) you can bet India would have been chasing well over 450, maybe close to 500 in that final innings, and even as it was, few other captains in world cricket would probably have declared overnight like Clarke did, leaving a definitely achievable target, most would have gone that extra 20 minutes of slogging to try and try to make it more like 400 in a bit less than a day to pretty much put it completely out of reach. Clarke's penchant to err on the aggressive side rather than the conservative side with declarations is really the only thing that allowed India to be in the match at all. Okay, maybe Kohli's captaincy is really good because under Dhoni they would have got smashed even more and never even had that chance, but we can't actually know that.
13th Man
Roar Pro
I think 4 is a good compromise. 5 is where watto should bat and Marsh should go to 3. However in an ideal world neither would be playing.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I didn't say it was that for you, though I believe it was one motivating factor for a lot of people. I think there is definitely an aspect where people have an idea of what a top batsman's technique should look like, and they gravitate to batsmen who look like that, and reject ones who don't, even if the techniques they have turn out to be very effective. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard comments about underperforming batsmen suggesting they were better than their record suggests based on some perception of their technique I'd be a very rich man. Batsmen like Khawaja, Doolan, even Shaun Marsh (before everyone outside the NSP got sick of his regular single figure scores) fit this category. People see them play a good innings, and their technique fits the bill of what you imagine a good batsman should look like, then you see Smith and he doesn't, despite the fact that his record is a lot better than all those other batsmen. It's just human nature to do that. We all know there is more to it than just statistics, so we try and look beyond bare stats to see what about a batsman sets them apart as better, and we often look at completely the wrong things. There are plenty of batsmen who'll never even reach top grade cricket level who have picture perfect textbook batting technique, so fitting the textbook method the best is obviously not the main ingredient to being a top test batsman.
Andy_Roo
Roar Guru
If I remember correctly Clarke was recalled in New Zealand to cover an injury and was only actually dropped for one test. Happy to be corrected.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
I'm off to buy some hair dye right now.
Darshan Kawar
Roar Pro
Hi Ryan, I am also of same opinion. Although, it is too early to judge Kohli on the basis of only one test match and Smith's credentials since last 18 months or so, the time is now to give both of them a long rope and make them permanent skippers. Dhoni clearly is not a master tactician when it comes to test matches, Kohli has shown glimpse of how a test match should be approached and go for win. There's no point if you play hard for 4 days and then settle for draw if you think and sense a win can be achieved. This is where Kohli would be most suitable and appropriate. Smith seems to me a natural leader and plays aggressively when situation demands and can accelerate the innings well. But my concern is BCCI and Indian team management / selectors are not known to take such drastic steps on the basis of one test match. Hopefully good sense prevails and Dhoni himself steps aside to let Kohli lead and play purely as a wicket-keeper batsman.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6607.html